Insulation Protects Your Summer House From Seasonal Impacts

Summer houses are used for a short period of the year and therefore they are not taken care during winter. Summer houses without insulation are getting more worn off every year. Residents in summer houses without insulation are exposed to summer heat more than ever. Turning on the A/C to cool down increases power consumption and electricity bills. İzocam is warning house owners, indicating that with insulation, lifecycle of summer houses can be extended and A/Cs can be less needed.

As the sun started to show through the clouds, summer houses have become popular again. Having been abandoned for months, summer houses require maintenance every summer because they are usually built uninsulated. But they need to be better planed before construction and better protected.

The buildings we live in are the main areas where we consume energy. There are much to know about the buildings which often see cooling and heating operations, than thermal losses and fuel saving. In Turkey, insulation is regarded as a precaution necessary for protecting from the cold and an unnecessary application in hot climates. However, it is the exact opposite… In summer season where overwhelming heat is more difficult to overcome, cooling is more expensive than heating, resulting in comfort issues and health problems. Air conditioners constantly turned on in summer houses without or insufficient insulation cause high energy consumption and high electricity bills. Thermal insulation and water proofing inserted in summer houses and buildings in hot climates delivers energy saving while protecting the facades and roof surfaces, together forming the construction envelope, from the adverse effects of external atmospheric conditions and ensuring long-lasting buildings.

Using “Thicker" insulation material improves savings proportionally while not increasing other costs in the system. TS 825 Thermal Insulation Rules in Buildings Standard predicts the insulation thickness in country-wide as 6-10 cm depending on 4 different climatic regions on the basis of degree/day value. In countries in which climatic conditions change throughout the year, such as Turkey, thickness of insulation differs depending on regions. While the lowest insulation thickness that is predicted for sub-districts located in high zones of Arhavi and Hopa in Artvin is about 6 cm on the walls; for coastal regions including Bodrum and Ayvalik, minimum 6 cm insulation thickness on the walls may be required. Izocam underlines that with right and thick insulation, it’s possible to provide complete protection and have more comfortable summer houses.

Stating that summer houses used in a specific season of the year need insulation more, Fatih Oktem Deputy General Manager of Sales and Marketing at İzocam says, “Having left abandoned throughout the winter, summer houses are more affected by adverse effects of winter and changing atmospheric conditions due to large temperature range. Falling rain may cause roof slopes, some walls may absorb water and houses may be left unattended in this way. Such drawbacks cause increased maintenance and repair costs as well as hard-to-fix damages in these houses. The best solution to such drawbacks would be insulating all exterior walls with İzocam Manto Exterior Wall Insulation Systems within the scope of the TS 825 Standard Thermal Insulation Rules in Buildings Standard; roofs with İzocam Glass Wool Roof Blanket or İzocam Rafter Blankets in sloped roof depending on whether the attics are used and İzocam Foamboard thermal insulation board (XPS) and water proofing in flat roofs. Insulation will prevent operating construction elements in large temperature ranges and therefore damages which may occur due to thermal stresses.”

Indicating that summer houses can be protected by using correct and thick insulation materials within the scope of the standards, Oktem continues, “Using an extensive and thick insulation in summer houses would minimize the structural drawbacks and reduce energy consumption due to A/C operation in summer. A house in Bodrum, Antalya or Cesme also requires insulation as much as a house in Istanbul. Insulation thickness differs from district to district, even from sub-district to sub-district. For example, it’s necessary to apply at least 6 cm insulation for the walls and at least 10 cm insulation for the roof in a house located in Datca. These thicknesses are also applicable for favorite summer destinations such as Fethiye, Marmaris and Gokova. However, achieving more energy savings and better interior living conditions, the thick insulation applied according to seasonal conditions must be installed in line with the regulations and even it must exceed the values stipulated in these regulations. With such thick insulation, it’s possible to provide complete protection and have more comfortable summer houses. While 4-6 cm of insulation thickness is considered in practice in our country, the value differs from 20 to 50 cm in European countries. To comply with the values in Europe and to ensure an effective insulation, increasing and revising insulation thicknesses described in the TS 825 will enable Turkey to achieve the conditions aimed in developed countries and sustainable future.”